Buyers Guide

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A Buyer’s GUIDE
OBJECTIVES
Decide on a basic computer system Determine your computer’s architecture Buy a computer Review notebook computers Select peripheral devices Buy system and application software Find purchasing and user support Organize your findings: A Buyer’s Guide Summary Compare computers: Buyer’s Specification Worksheet Work in the computer industry

BU YER GUI DE

'S

Whether you are a first-time buyer or are upgrading your computer system, when the time comes to make your computer buying decision, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available to you. T here are thousands of computer advertisements in magazines and newspapers which list detailed technical specifications for their products. To get the best deal on a computer that meets your needs, you need to understand what these technical specifications mean and how they will affect your computing power. T his Buyer's G uide will help you to organize your purchasing decisions. T his guide also includes a worksheet that you can use to summarize your specifications for a computer and compare prices and features.

Copyright © by Course Technology. All rights reserved. This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permision in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers and sellers.

Deciding on a basic computer system

BU YE R'S
GU IDE

The first decision you should make is what basic configuration your new computer system should have. T he first step is to establish the budget for your computer system, which will help you to exclude those system configurations that are too costly. Figure BG -1 shows a typical computer ad. You can't tell if this MicroPlus is a good deal unless you compare its specifications with those of computers from other vendors.

D E T A I L S
Desktop or notebook: Will you be working from a single location or taking your computer with you to many locations? Choose a notebook if you plan to take your computer with you. Note, however, that notebooks cost more than a similarly configured desktop, so you will pay for portability. Network or stand-alone: Will you be working as part of a network or alone? Do you plan to tie into a network and take advantage of a central file server and microprocessor using your computer as a workstation? If you are setting up for a network, you need to purchase the network components, such as network interface cards (NICs) and cables. PlatformÑMacintosh or IBM-compatible PC: Evaluate the software available on both platforms to decide which better suits your needs. If you will be working closely with other people, decide whether you need to work on the same platform. The computer in the ad in Figure BG-1 is an IBM-compatible. It uses an Intel Pentium 4 microprocessor. Case type: If you choose to buy a desktop, how much space is available for the computer? Towers can fit under a desk on the floor. Planning for expansion: The computer case includes openings, or "bays." An external bay provides an opening for installing devices such as a hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, Zip drive, removable hard disk drive, CD-ROMo and tape drive. An internal bay provides a mounting bracket to hold devices that do not need to be accessed from outside the system unit, such as a hard disk drive. A case with more bays provides you with greater expansion capability. To add peripheral devices such as a printer, scanner, or graphics tablet, your computer needs open ports or expansion slots.
FIGURE BG-1: A typical computer ad

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MicroPlus Home PC XP2

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MicroPlus awardwinning computers offer strong performance at a reasonable price. Simply the fastest Windows machines you can buy. MicroPlus computers feature superior engineering, starting with a genuine Intel processor and a motherboard designed specifically to take advantage of the latest technological advancements. Of course, you are covered by the MicroPlus oneyear, on-site parts and labor warranty.*

G Intel Pentium 4 - 1.5 GHz with 512K cache G 800 RDRAM expandable to 2GB G 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive G 40 GB Ultra ATA hard drive G 40X var. CD-ROM/8 max. DVD drive G Turtle Beach Montego Sound Blaster-compatible PCI sound card G Stereo speakers G 16 MB Diamond Viper AGP graphics card G 56 K V.90 PCI data/fax modem G 17" (13.8 vis) .26 dp monitor 1280 1024 max. res G 7-bay mid-tower case G 2 Firewire, 2 USB, 1 parallel port G Multifunction keyboard and mouse G Windows 2000 G Microsoft Office XP G MicroPlus Edutainment Pak

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*On-site service available for hardware only and only in the continental United States. Shipping and handling costs are not covered by warranty. All returns must be in original box and packaging. Shipping and handling costs are nonrefundable. Call for an RMA number. Prices and availability subject to change without notice.

2 COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

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A desktop computer typically includes one keyboard port, one mouse port, two USB ports, one parallel port, and two serial ports. The computer in the ad in Figure BG-1 has seven bays, two USB ports and one of which is a parallel port.

 Hard disk drives: A hard disk drive (hard drive) is standard
equipment on virtually every PC. Factors that influence hard drive performance and price include storage capacity, access time, and controller type. Capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB). When you compare computer systems, the hard drive capacity should be a significant factor in your analysis. Most of today’s computers are shipped with at least 20 GB of hard disk capacity. Computer ads usually specify hard disk access time to give an indication of the drive performance. Access times between 6 ms and 11 ms are typical for today’s microcomputer hard drives. Hard drive specifications also include a measure of speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). The faster a drive spins, the more quickly it can access data.

 Display device: The quality of the computer display
depends on the features of the video display adapter and the capability of the monitor. Monitors are rated by their resolution capability as well as the size of the display screen. A typical desktop monitor can be 15", 17", 19", 21" or 27." Prices increase with the size of the monitor. The monitor in the ad has a 17" screen with a viewable image size of 13.8". It also has a maximum resolution of 1280 1024.

 Graphics card: A computer display system consists of a monitor
and a graphics card, also called a video display adapter or video card. A graphics card is an expansion card that controls the signals that the computer sends to the monitor. Most computers include a graphics card, even if a monitor is not included. Graphics card specifications include the manufacturer, model, slot type, accelerator technology, and video memory capacity. The computer in the ad in Figure BG-1 has a 16 MB Diamond Viper AGP graphics card. The clarity of a computer display depends on the quality of the monitor and the capability of the graphics card. Whether inserted in a PCI slot (slower to update the screen) or the AGP expansion slot (fastest graphics cards), most graphics cards use special graphics accelerator chips to boost performance. An accelerated graphics card can greatly increase the speed at which images are displayed. Graphics cards carry their own memory circuitry, called video memory, which stores graphic images as they are processed and before they are displayed. The amount of memory on the card determines the maximum screen resolution and the color depth that can be sent to the display device. Today’s video cards typically contain between 8 MB and 32 MB of video memory; the more video memory a card has, the more expensive it is. Color depth refers to the number of colors that can be present on the screen at any one time. A 24-bit color depth is considered to be photographic quality and can display more than 16 million colors.

 Controller cards: A hard drive mechanism includes a circuit
board called a controller card that positions the disk and read-write heads to locate data. Disk drives are categorized according to the type of controller cards they have. EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Device Electronics) and Ultra ATA (AT attachment) drives are essentially the same basic drive technology and feature high storage capacity and fast data transfer. Ultra ATA drives are twice as fast as their EIDE counterparts. SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) drives provide a slight performance advantage over EIDE drives and are recommended for high-performance microcomputer systems and minicomputers. Some computers feature DMA hard drives. DMA (direct memory access) is a companion technology that allows a computer to transfer data directly from a drive into RAM without intervention from the processor. The fastest drive action will occur when a computer has an Ultra ATA drive and that implements DMA data transfer. The computer in the ad in Figure BG-1 has a 20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive.

 CD and DVD drives: Many multimedia, game, educational,
and reference applications are available only on CD-ROM or DVD disks. A CD-ROM or DVD drive gives your computer the capability to access these applications. Today, every microcomputer comes configured with a CD-ROM drive. DVD-ROM drives are typically included with more expensive computer systems. DVD-ROM drives read CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, and DVD movie formats. A CD-ROM drive cannot read DVD-ROM or DVD movie formats. The data transfer rate of the CD-ROM drive might be listed as 40X variable. This listing means that the data transfer rate of the CD-ROM varies between a minimum transfer rate of 2,500 KBps (17X) and a maximum speed of 6,0000 KBps (40X). Alternative terminology for 40X variable is 17–40X and 40X max. The computer in the ad has a 40x variable speed CD-ROM.

 Floppy disk drives: Most microcomputers today are
configured with a single 3.5" floppy disk drive that reads from and writes to 1.44 MB disks. One 3.5" drive should be sufficient. The computer in the ad in Figure BG-1 has one 3.5" floppy disk drive. Many computers also include a 100 MB or 250 MB Zip drive or readable/writeable CD-ROM drive for backing up larger files, and DVD drives.

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

3

Determining your computer’s architecture
Once you have established the basic configuration of your desired computer system, you need to think about the computer architecture. These technical specifications will ultimately determine your computing power.

DETAILS
 The microprocessor is the core component in a computer. Computer ads typically indicate the type of microprocessor, the company that
manufactured the microprocessor, and the microprocessor’s speed. Intel and AMD are currently the two major PC microprocessor manufacturers. Computers that contain Intel processors command higher prices than computers that contain other manufacturers’ processors. • AMD produces “work-alike” processors for PC-compatible processors. AMD processors offer manufacturers and customers an alternative to processors produced by Intel. AMD processors are generally less expensive than their Intel counterparts, but have many of the same features and capabilities of Intel processors. • Intel also produces a “budget” processor called Celeron, which has a slightly less sophisticated architecture than Pentium models. • AMD produces K6 and Athlon processors that compete directly with Intel’s Pentium and Celeron processors. From a user’s perspective, it is virtually impossible to find any operational differences between computers that use AMD processors and those with Intel processors. If you want to run Macintosh software, select a computer with a 68000-series or PowerPC microprocessor. Until 1994, Macintosh computers contained a 68000-series microprocessor manufactured by Motorola. More recent models, called “Power Macs” contain a PowerPC microprocessor.

 When purchasing a processor, two components to consider are speed and cache capacity.
• Speed: Processor speed is a measure of clock rate, which is an indication of the number of instructions that can be processed per second. A computer with a 550 MHz processor would be faster than a computer with a 500 MHz processor if all other specifications for the two computers being compared were equal. Manufacturers charge a premium price for speed. For certain applications, such as 3-D games and desktop publishing, the fastest processor can be very desirable. Applications such as word processing and e-mail don’t seem to benefit as much from accelerated clock speeds. Cache capacity: RAM cache is special high-speed circuitry that holds data just before the processor needs it. In theory, having a large cache area increases processing speed. Cache capacity is tied to the processor model. For example, a Celeron processor typically has 128 KB cache, whereas a Pentium IV typically has a 512 KB cache.



Cache contributes to the speed of the chip and is often referred to in computer ads. The cache chip connects to the main processor by a dedicated high-speed bus and is often housed in the same chip carrier as the processor. With today’s computer architecture, cache is not configurable. • Level 1 cache (L1 cache) is built into the processor chip. • Level 2 cache (L2 cache) is memory circuitry housed off the processor on a separate chip. Level 2 cache is much faster than RAM and almost as fast as cache built into the processor chip.

 Benchmark tests: A benchmark test is a set of standard processing tasks that measure the performance of computer hardware or
software. You can use benchmark test results to compare the performance of two computers.

 RAM—requirements and cost: The amount of RAM a computer needs depends on the operating system and application software you plan
to use. Today, RAM costs approximately $2.50 to $10 per megabyte. Your computer should have at least 32 MB of RAM, but additional memory modules can be added. Most computers come with at least 128 MB. Consumer advocates recommend that you get as much RAM as you can afford with your initial purchase. If a computer features SDRAM (synchronized dynamic RAM) technology, you can expect better performance from it than from computers with standard memory technology such as EDO and FPM.

4

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

LAB: buying a computer

Lab
BUYING A COMPUTER

When buying from a mail-order or Internet computer vendor, consumers don’t have an opportunity to take various computer models for a “test drive.” They make their computer purchase decisions based solely on a list of specifications. Thus it is essential to understand the specifications in computer ads. In this lab, you will find out how to use a Shopping Glossary to interpret the specifications.

STEPS
1. Click the Steps button to learn how to use the Shopping Glossary. As you proceed through the Steps, answer all of the QuickCheck questions that appear. After you complete the Steps, you will see a QuickCheck Report. Follow the instructions on the screen to print this report. 2. Click the Explore button and read the ad for the Nevada Tech Systems computer in Ad 1. Use the Shopping Glossary to define the following terms: a. L2 cache b. SDRAM c. AGP d. Wavetable e. Zip f. V.90 3. In Explore, read the ads for the ZeePlus Value Pak and the ZeePlus Multimedia Pro computers. The two systems differ substantially in price. If you purchase the more expensive system, what additional features do you get? 4. In Explore, read the ad for the ZeePlus Multimedia Pro Computer (500 MHz) and the NP2 Super Systems Computer. What is the price difference between these two systems? What factors might account for this price difference? 5. In Explore, read the ads to find a notebook computer that’s priced within $100 of the Nevada Tech Systems desktop computer. Make a list of the features that the desktop computer has, but the notebook computer lacks. Which one would you buy? Why? 6. Photocopy a computer ad from a recent issue of a computer magazine. On a separate sheet of paper, write each specification (for example, Intel Pentium IV processor). For each specification, define each term (for example, Intel is a microprocessor manufacturer, Pentium is a type of microprocessor in the 86 family). Write out all acronyms (for example, RAM means “random access memory”). If you have difficulty with some of the terms and acronyms, click the Explore button and use the Shopping Glossary.

Additional resources

Before you make any computerrelated purchasing decisions,

you might refer to the following InfoWebs. These InfoWebs are

your guide to print, film, television, and electronic resources.

Clickable ONLINE Links:

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WHICH CHIP?

BENCHMARKS

SOUND SYSTEMS

DISPLAY SYSTEMS

NOTEBOOKS

PCMCIA

PRINTERS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

5

Reviewing notebook computers
Whether you purchase a desktop or notebook computer, the microprocessor will be critical in determining the computer’s performance. If you decide to buy a notebook computer, however, you must make some additional decisions.

DETAILS
 Notebook displays: Notebook computers do not use monitors  External ports: Most notebook computers feature built-in
that are big and heavy or that require too much electrical power to run on batteries. Instead, notebooks have flat panel liquid crystal displays. A liquid crystal display (LCD) uses a technically sophisticated method of passing light through a thin layer of liquid crystal cells to produce an image. The resulting flat panel screen is lightweight and compact. • Many older notebooks have a passive matrix screen, sometimes referred to as a dual-scan screen. A passive matrix screen relies on timing to ensure that the liquid crystal cells are illuminated. As a result, the process of updating the screen image does not always keep up with moving images, and the display can appear blurred. Passive matrix technology is not suitable for multimedia applications that include animations and videos. • An active matrix screen, also referred to as TFT (thin film transistor), is updated more rapidly and provides image quality similar to that of a monitor. Active matrix screens are essential for a crisp display of animation and video. Notebook computer ads usually specify screen resolution as SVGA or XGA. SVGA (super video graphics array) is 800 600 resolution. XGA (extended graphics array) is 1024 768 resolution. The specified resolution might be the only resolution available, so be sure to ask a salesperson and check the specifications for the notebook computer carefully. ports to compensate for the limited user-installable expansion options. A notebook computer typically includes: • One keyboard port for connecting an external keyboard • One mouse port for connecting an external pointing device • One graphics port for connecting an external monitor The advantage of an external monitor is the highquality display. The disadvantage is that you need to disconnect the external monitor when you transport the computer. • • • • • • One parallel port for a printer or other parallel devices such as a scanner or external hard drive One USB port One serial port One infrared port for printers and PDAs that support wireless data transfer One audio-out port for external speakers or headphones One audio-in port for an external microphone

 Expansion slot: A PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association) slot is a special type of expansion slot developed for notebook computers because they do not have enough space in the case to hold full-size expansion slots and cards. A PCMCIA slot is a small, external slot into which you can insert a PCMCIA card. See Figure BG-2.

 PCMCIA cards: PCMCIA cards, also called PC cards, are
credit-card-sized circuit boards that incorporate an expansion card and device. Some PCMCIA cards contain a modem, others contain memory expansion, and still others contain a hard disk drive. You can plug in and remove PCMCIA devices without turning the computer off, unlike desktop computer expansion cards. In this way, you can switch from one PCMCIA device to another without disrupting your work.

 Port replicator: A port replicator is an inexpensive device
that connects to a notebook computer by a bus connector plug. It contains a duplicate of the notebook computer’s ports and makes it more convenient to connect and disconnect your notebook computer from devices, such as an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Port replicators do not include expansion slots and typically cannot be used to add a sound card or CD-ROM drive to your notebook computer.

6

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

PCMCIA slots are categorized by size. Type I slots accept only the thinnest PCMCIA cards, such as memory expansion cards. • Type II slots accept most of the popular PCMCIA cards—those that contain modems, sound cards, and network cards. • Type III slots accept the thickest PCMCIA cards, which contain devices such as hard disk drives. Many notebooks provide a multipurpose PCMCIA slot that will accept two Type I cards, two Type II cards, or one Type III card. •

 Notebook power sources: Most notebook computers operate
on power from either rechargeable batteries or a wall outlet. Because notebooks are designed for portability, the computing time provided by batteries is important and dependent on many factors. Fast processors, active matrix LCDs, and additional peripheral devices all demand significant power from notebook computer batteries. Notebook manufacturers have attempted to reduce the power consumption by building power-saving features into their computers. If you do not interact with the computer for a short time, these features automatically turn off the hard disk drive, LCD display, or even the processor. These devices are reactivated when you press a key or move the mouse. • Most notebook computers use lithium ion batteries. Notebooks typically provide two to four hours of battery-powered operating time before the batteries need to be recharged. • In addition, most notebook computers require an external AC adapter to plug into a wall outlet or to recharge the batteries. Some notebooks have eliminated the external adapter and require only a power cable to plug into a wall outlet. It is a good idea to use AC power whenever possible. The easiest way to extend the operating time of your notebook computer is to purchase extra batteries. Some notebooks allow you to swap batteries while the computer remains on; this process is called a hot swap.

 Docking station: A docking station is an additional
expansion bus into which you plug your notebook computer. Notebook computer expansion devices tend to be more expensive than those for desktop computers, but it is possible to use desktop peripherals with notebook computers if you have a docking station or a port replicator. The notebook provides the processor and RAM. The docking station provides expansion slots for cards that will not fit into the notebook case. It allows you to purchase inexpensive expansion cards and peripherals designed for desktops, instead of the more expensive devices designed specifically for notebooks. When you use a docking station, you sacrifice portability, but gain the use of low-cost, powerful desktop peripherals.

 Pointing device: Although a mouse is the standard pointing
device used with desktop computers, it can be inconvenient to carry and use while traveling. Most notebook computers include an alternative pointing device. The three most popular options are a built-in trackball, a track point, and a touch pad.

 Weight: Notebook computers can vary considerably in weight.
Lighter notebooks are generally more expensive. Consider how often you will carry your computer to determine whether weight will be a factor in your purchasing decision.

 Case to carry: Consider how you will carry your notebook
computer and purchase a case that is well designed. The case should be well padded to protect the computer as well as provide the necessary compartments to store extra devices, power cords and cables, and any papers or notes you may carry.
FIGURE BG-2: PCMCIA cards

r To add a modem, network interface card, or hard disk to a notebook computer, plug in a PCMCIA card.

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

7

Selecting peripheral devices
Peripheral devices add functionality to your computer system by giving you different options for input, output, and storage. If your budget is limited, you do not have to include all of these devices when you buy your computer system. You can add any of them to your computer system later as your needs and budget permit.

DETAILS
 Pointing device: The computer mouse is the standard
pointing device for desktop computers. You have several types from which to choose. • A serial mouse connects to your serial port. • A bus mouse connects directly to a bus port. • An infrared mouse does not connect to your computer with a cable. Instead, it uses infrared to transmit the movements and clicks to a receiver that plugs into the port on your computer. • A scrolling mouse helps alleviate wrist movements by providing a fixed mouse with a rolling ball and two buttons. • Color capability: Some printers are capable of printing in color, whereas others are limited to black, white, and shades of gray. If you have a printer that does not print color, then the colorful graphics and Web pages that you see on your computer screen will be printed as shades of gray. • Print speed: Printer speeds are measured in terms of either pages per minute (ppm) or characters per second (cps). • Printer cost: Microcomputer printers range in price from $100 to $5,000. Typically, more expensive printers provide higher resolution, faster printing speeds, and a high-capacity duty cycle. A duty cycle is an indication of the number of pages a printer can be expected to print per month without undue wear and tear on the machine. • Per-copy cost: Printing requires ongoing costs for printer supplies, such as ribbons, ink cartridges, and toner. These costs vary with different types, brands, and models of printers. In comparative reviews, you might see these costs expressed as “per-copy costs” —the cost of printing a page with an average amount of text, graphics, and color. • Warranty: Printers tend to be fairly reliable devices, but problems with circuit boards, paper-handling mechanisms, and print heads occur occasionally. Printer warranties typically cover mechanical and electronic problems, but require that you send the printer to a service center for repair. Multifunction printers use either laser or ink-jet technology to take the place of a variety of printing and communications devices, such as a computer printer, fax machine, answering machine, telephone, copier, and scanner.

 Keyboards: Many desktop computers come equipped with a
standard 104-key keyboard. Although most such computers include a standard keyboard and a mouse, you might want to consider alternative input devices. You can upgrade to other keyboards, including an ergonomically designed keyboard and a scrolling mouse, and cordless models, too.

 Printers: Printers are characterized as dot matrix, ink-jet, or
laser. Occasionally a computer vendor offers a hardware bundle that includes a computer, printer, and software. More often, however, printers are sold separately so consumers can choose the quality, features, and price they want. Ink-jet and personal laser printers are most popular with today’s consumers because they provide high-quality print on plain paper. Although color printers are available in each category, color ink-jet printers offer the best price-performance characteristics. Color laser printers are expensive, whereas color dot-matrix printers offer poor quality. When you purchase a printer, you should consider the following factors: resolution, color capability, print speed, printer cost, per-copy cost, and warranty. • Resolution: The quality of printed images and text depends on the printer’s resolution—the density of the gridwork of dots that create an image. Printer resolution is measured by the number of dots it can print per linear inch, abbreviated dpi. Microcomputer printer resolutions vary from 60 dpi to 1,500 dpi.

 Sound cards: A basic computer sound system includes a
sound card and a set of small speakers. The sound card circuitry for a notebook computer is often built into the motherboard, and the speakers are built into the case. A sound card converts the digital data in a sound file into analog signals for instrumental, vocal, and spoken sounds. In

8

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

addition, a sound card lets you make your own recordings by converting analog sounds into digitized sound files that you can store on disk. To record your own sounds, you’ll need to add a good-quality microphone to your sound system. Typically, sound cards are manufactured by companies other than those that manufacture computers. Most multimedia software specifies the type of sound required.

 Fax modems: A fax modem is a modem that includes fax
capability. Such a device can send a document that is in the memory of your computer to any standard fax machine, where it appears in hard copy format, or to another fax modem to be printed later. Fax modems can also receive fax transmissions from standard fax machines or other fax modems.

 Most sound cards feature Sound Blaster compatibility and
wavetable synthesis. Wavetable synthesis creates music by playing digitized sound samples of actual instruments. The size of the wavetable affects the resulting sound quality. The larger the wavetable, the more realistic the sound. Numbers such as 64, 128, or 512 in the sound card specification usually indicate the size of the wavetable.

 Scanner: A scanner reads images on a page and converts
them to digital representation. It offers a fast way to convert images on paper to data that can be manipulated.

 Backup system: Depending on how much data you want to
copy and how often you want to back up your hard disk, you may consider adding a tape backup system to your computer. Special high-capacity drives, such as Zip removable hard disk drives, provide removable storage. Table BG-1 compares the advantages and disadvantages of various backup media.

 Speakers: A sound card outputs sound to speakers or earphones. As with any audio system, higher-quality speakers provide richer sound and enhanced volume. Speaker manufacturers such as Altec Lansing, Koss, Harmon/Kardon, and Yamaha are familiar names in the audio business.

 Backup power systems: A surge protector protects your computer system against sudden fluctuations in power. A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) will protect your data if the power fails for a short time.

 Modem: Many computer systems include a modem that transmits and receives data over phone lines to other computers. The baud rate identifies the transmission speed. Faster baud rates mean faster transmission; new systems typically come with a minimum 56.6 baud (kilobits per second) modem.

 Game accessories: For games that require motion input, consider purchasing a joy stick, flight yoke, or steering wheel, depending on the application.

TABLE BG-1: Advantages and disadvantages of various backup media

BACKUP MEDIUM
Floppy disks 1.44 MB

COSTS
Drive: <$50 Disks (50): $10 Drive: $199 Disks (5): $60 Drive: $149+ Disks (1): $125 Drive: $249 Disks (1): $10 Drive: $400+ Disks (1): $40 Drive: $200 Tapes (1): $30 Drive: None Disks: Cheap

ADVANTAGES
Satisfactory for backing up a limited number of files. Reliable and especially useful for large data files. Enough storage capacity for a fullsystem backup. Reliable, with good storage capacity.

DISADVANTAGES
Requires too many disks for a complete system backup. Not practical for backing up all the programs and data on a large hard disk. Potentially less reliable than floppy, Zip, or optical media. Slow, and not enough storage capacity for the entire contents of a large hard disk.

Zip disks
250 MB Removable hard disks 10-60 GB CD-RW 650 MB DVD-RAM 5-60 GB Tape 10 GB Paper 1 page

Reliable, with enough capacity to back Still expensive and slower than tape drives. up the data typically stored on a hard disk. Low cost and high capacity. Somewhat less reliable than optical media.

Inexpensive backup for documents.

Information must be digitized before being restored to disk. Cannot be used to back up programs.

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

9

Buying system and application software
You should also be aware of how the software market works and how to get the best deals. Refer to Table BG-2 for a summary of software.
TABLE B-2: Categorizing software

APPLICATION
Macintosh platform

USE TO
Run the computer, manage files, allocate drive space, interact with peripheral devices. Run the computer, manage files, allocate drive space, interact with peripheral devices.

EXAMPLES
Mac OS

Software Category: Operating Systems

PC platform

Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows NT Workstation Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows ME UNIX and versions of UNIX, such as AIX from IBM and IIS from Microsoft; Digital UNIX from Compaq/DEC; Linux, a variation of UNIX

PCs, minicomputers, Establish foundation technologies for networks and Web mainframe servers appropriate for servers and high-performance computers workstations.
Software Category: Document Production

Word processing

Write and spell-check documents such as reports, letters, and marketing materials. Enhance the format and appearance of documents such as newsletters, brochures, newspapers,magazines, and books through sophisticated graphic design features. Design and develop Web pages that you can publish on the Internet.

Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, Lotus Word Pro

Desktop publishing

QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe InDesign Microsoft Publisher SoftQuad HoTMetaL, Macromedia HomeSite, Macromedia DreamWeaver, Microsoft FrontPage Adobe GoLive Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, Micrografx Picture Publisher, Paintshop Pro, Adobe Photoshop Macromedia Fireworks Microsoft Paint

Web authoring

Software Category: Graphics Graphics

Create, edit, and manipulate images.

Paint

Create and edit bitmap images. Bitmaps are stored as a series of colored dots. Enhance and manipulate photographs by modifying contrast, brightness, and cropping, and by removing red-eye. Create diagrams, corporate logos, and schematics. Represent a three-dimensional object by covering a wire frame with a surface color and texture.

Photo editing

Adobe PhotoShop, Microsoft PhotoDraw

Vector graphics 3-D graphics

AutoCAD Corel BRYCE

Software Category: Presentation Presentation

Combine text, graphics, animation, and sound into a series of electronic slides.

Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance Graphics

10

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

APPLICATION
Spreadsheet Statistical

USE TO
Perform calculations based on numbers and formulas; transform data into graphs. Analyze large sets of data to discover relationships and patterns. Summarize survey results, experiment results, and test scores to help visualize and explore trends. Solve a wide range of math, science, and engineering problems.

EXAMPLES
Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 SPSS, JMP, Data Desk

Software Category: Spreadsheet and Statistical

Mathematical modeling

MathCad, Mathematica

Software Category: Data Management File management Database

Work with simple lists of information such as holiday card addresses. Manage a database, which is a collection of related files, to store, find, organize, update, and report information stored in more than one file.

Microsoft Works For personal computers: Microsoft Access, Lotus Approach, Claris FileMaker Pro For mainframe databases: Oracle, IBM DB2

Software Category: Information and Reference Information and reference

Access information on a wide array of topics, such as general encyclopedias, medical references, and map software.

Microsoft Encarta, Groliers Encyclopedia, Compton’s Encyclopedia, Britannica’s CD

Software Category: Accounting and Finance Personal finance

Help track monetary transactions, bank accounts, credit card transactions, and bills as well as monitor investments; also support online banking. Track invoices, accounts, customer data, purchasing history, payroll, and inventory functions.

Microsoft Money, Intuit Quicken

Small business

Peachtree Complete Accounting, Intuit QuickBooks, Best!Ware M.Y.O.B.

Software Category: Connectivity Communications Browser Remote control

Dial your connection. Built into most microcomputer operating systems and often classified as a system utility. View Web pages and navigates links on the Internet. Establish a connection between two computers, such as one in your home and one in your office; use the keyboard of one to control the other. Send and receive e-mail messages over the Internet; manage your computer mailbox.

Windows Dial-Up Network, DSL, Cable Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera Browser Symantec pcANYWHERE, Traveling Software LapLink

E-mail

Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator, Lotus Notes, Qualcomm’s Eudora

Software Category: Education and Training Education, edutainment

Learn and practice new skills, languages; prepare for standardized tests; play while learning.

Learning Company Reader Rabbit, Reader Rabbit Math

Software Category: Entertainment Action, adventure, role playing, puzzles, simulations, strategy

Play games such as simulations, toys, and leisure fun. Often features 3-D graphics to play and interact with the environment.

Duke Nukem, Doom, Diablo, ToomRaider, SimCity, NASCAR Racing; also stand-alone Nintendo, Sony PlayStation

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

11

Finding purchasing and user support
As with any major purchase, you need reliable support before and after you purchase your computer system. You need to keep up with changes in technology and in the computer industry. For example, the announcement of a new operating system or a news article about a computer company downsizing could affect your purchasing decisions. After you make your purchase, you continue to need service and support from the vendor or manufacturer.

DETAILS
 Computer publications: Computer publications provide infor-  Industry analysts: Journalists and columnists alike monitor
mation on computers, computing, and the computer industry. • Computer magazines generally target users of both personal and business computers. Articles focus on product evaluations, product comparisons, and practical tips for installing hardware and using software. These magazines are full of product advertisements that are useful if you want to keep informed about the latest products available for your computer. • Computer industry trade journals target computer professionals, rather than consumers. Computer trade journals, such as InfoWorld and Computer Reseller News, focus on company profiles, product announcements, and sales techniques. • Computing journals offer an academic perspective on computers and computing issues. Such journals focus on research in computing. These academic journals rarely advertise hardware and software products, because it might appear that advertisers could influence the content of articles. An article in a computing journal is usually “refereed”—that is, it is evaluated by a committee of experts who determine whether the article is original and based on sound research techniques. computer industry trends, evaluate industry events, and make predictions about what the trends seem to indicate. Computer analysts range from professional financial analysts who report in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine to “rumorcentral” analysts who spark up the back pages of trade journals and computer magazines with the latest gossip about new computer products.

 Vendor and manufacturer support: As part of your purchasing
decision, you want to know what sort of support and service you can expect from the vendor and from the manufacturer. You should look specifically at the following: • Warranty and guarantee: Computer systems are major investments. Does the manufacturer provide reasonable guarantees on the equipment? Most computers come with a one-year parts and labor warranty. Also consider the reputation of the manufacturer and vendor. • Local repair: Find out if you can expect in your home. If you need a component repaired, will the system be repaired locally? Do you have to send it out? Who pays shipping? These costs can be significant. Do you get a replacement while you wait for the system or part to be repaired? Some manufacturers provide an instant exchange program for components, giving you a refurbished unit in exchange for yours. • Telephone support: If you have a problem and need to call the manufacturer or vendor, does it have a local or toll-free number? You don’t want to add significant costs in phone expenses to your computer system. What is the typical waiting time for a technical support person?

 Internet sites: Internet sites are an excellent source of information about the computer industry and computer products. Several computer magazines and trade journals, as well as many computer companies, have Internet sites. Here you can usually find product specifications, product announcements, sales literature, technical support forums, and pricing information.

 Television: Television shows about computers provide hardware and software reviews, tips, and computer industry news for new and experienced users. Most of these shows are carried on cable TV.

12

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

Organize Your Findings: A Buyer’s Guide Summary
CONSIDERATIONS NOTES

Basic computer system Desktop or notebook? Platform: Macintosh or IBM-compatible PC? Case type: tower, desktop? Display device Computer architecture Network or stand-alone? Which microprocessor? What clock speed? How much RAM? Include RAM cache? Expansion cards Special considerations for notebook computers Display External monitor PCMCIA slot Weight Power source/battery type Mouse type Docking station Carrying case Peripheral devices Pointing device Printer Scanner Modem, DSL, Cable Fax modem Backup system Surge protector/UPS CD-ROM /DVD Sound card/speakers Floppy disk drive/Zip disk drive System and application software and storage Operating system Software bundles Hard disk Internet service Internet Service Provider Web browsers

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

13

Comparing computers: buyer’s specification worksheet
Before you make a decision, shop around to collect information on pricing, features, and support. See Figure BG-3. You can find comparative pricing at Web-based “price-quote” sites. Although you might be tempted to buy the computer with the lowest price and best features, don’t forget to consider the warranty and the quality of the support you are likely to get from the vendor.

DETAILS
 When you use a price-quote site, be aware that some of these sites search only those merchants that have
paid to participate.
FIGURE BG-3: Comparative shopping feature list

Comparative Shopping Feature List
r Manufacturer: r Model: r Price: r Processor model: r Processor speed: r Cache capacity: r RAM capacity: r Hard disk drive capacity: r Hard disk drive type and speed: r CD/DVD drive speed: r Zip drive included: r Modem speed: r Sound card model: r Speaker description: r Graphics card slot type (desktop only): r Graphics card accelerator features: r Graphics card video RAM capacity: r Display type (LCD/CRT): r Display screen size and dot pitch: r Type of pointing device: r Number and type of expansion ports: r Number and type of expansion slots: r Overall weight (notebook only): r Battery operating time (notebook only): r Operating system version: r Bundled software (list):

Service and support
r What is the warranty period? years r Does the warranty cover parts and labor? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Does the vendor have a good reputation for service? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Are technical support hours adequate? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Toll-free number for technical support? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Can I contact technical support without waiting on hold for a long time? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Are technical support people knowledgeable? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Can I get my computer fixed in an acceptable time period? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Are the costs and procedures for fixing the computer acceptable? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Are other users satisfied with this brand and model of computer? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Is the vendor likely to stay in business? ❒ Yes ❒ No r Are the computer parts and components standard? ❒ Yes ❒ No

14

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

Working in the computer industry
The $290 billion computer industry employs more than 1.5 million people. Over the past

50 years, it has created jobs that never before existed and financial opportunities for those with motivation, creative ideas, and technical skills. Since 1970, high-tech business has produced more than 7,000 millionaires and more than a dozen billionaires. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and data-processing services are projected to be the third fastest growing industry; systems analysts, computer engineers, and data-processing equipment repairers are expected to be among the 30 fastest growing occupations between now and 2005. Not everyone who uses a computer is employed in the computer industry, however. For a clear picture of computer jobs, it is useful to consider three categories.

DETAILS
 Computer industry categories: These categories can be
somewhat loosely defined as computer-specific jobs, computer-related jobs, and computer-use jobs. • Computer-specific jobs—such as computer programming, chip design, and Webmaster—would not exist without computers. • Computer-related jobs, on the other hand, are variations of more generic jobs that you might find in any industry. For example, jobs in computer sales, hightech recruiting, and graphics design are similar to sales, recruiting, and design jobs in the automobile or medical industries. • Computer-use jobs require the use of computers to accomplish tasks in fields other than computing. Writers, reporters, accountants, retail clerks, medical technicians, auto mechanics, and many others use computers in the course of their everyday job activities. Of these three categories, computer-specific jobs require the most preparation and will appeal to those who like working with, learning about, and thinking about computers.

 Working conditions for computer-specific jobs: Graduates
with computer engineering, computer science, and information systems degrees generally work in a comfortable office or laboratory environment. Many high-tech companies offer employee-friendly working conditions that include child care, flexible hours, and the opportunity to telecommute. As in any industry, the exact nature of the job will depend on the company and the particular projects that are in the works.

 Salaries for computer-specific jobs: In the computer industry,
as in most industries, management positions command the highest salaries and salary levels increase with experience. Salaries vary by geographic location. In the Northeast and on the West Coast, salaries tend to be higher than in the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Canada.

 Preparing for a computer career: Education and experience are
the keys to gaining a challenging computer job with good potential for advancement. In addition to a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or information systems, think about how you can get on-the-job experience through internships, military service, government-sponsored training programs, or work-study programs. Owning your own computer, installing software, and troubleshooting provide good basic experience and familiarity with mass-market computing standards. You might pick up additional experience from projects sponsored by clubs and organizations. The three largest computer organizations in North America are the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers–Computer Society (IEEE-CS).

 Educational requirements for computer-specific jobs: Jobs for
people who design and develop computer hardware and software require a high degree of training and skill. A college degree is required for virtually any of these jobs, and many require a master’s degree or doctorate. Most colleges offer degrees in computer engineering, computer science, and information systems that provide good qualifications for computerspecific jobs.

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

A BUYER’S GUIDE

15

 Certification training: The Institute for Certification of
Computing Professionals (ICCP) has a regular schedule of comprehensive exams for computer jobs, such as computer programming, systems analysis, and network management. If you are considering a career in computer network management, it might be worthwhile to complete the test for Novell NetWare, Microsoft MCSE, or Microsoft NT certification. MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) certification for application software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access is also available.

 Preparing a résumé: You will need to prepare a résumé with
your career goals, experience, skills, and education. Some career counselors suggest that high-tech candidates should not follow many of the rules delineated in traditional résumé guidebooks. Instead, your résumé should focus on demonstrating your technical savvy without appearing overly “packaged.” For example, dot-matrix printing is hard to read and old-fashioned. By contrast, unless you’re applying for a job as a Web site or graphical designer, you don’t want your resume to look like an advertisement in a magazine. Remember that corporate cultures differ, so use your word processor to tailor your resume to the corporate culture of each prospective employer.

 Use technology to find a job: The first step in your job search
should be to realistically assess your qualifications and needs. Several excellent books and Web sites can provide information to help in your assessment. Your qualifications include your computer skills, educational background, previous work experience, communications skills, and personality. By comparing your qualifications with the requirements for a job, you can assess your chances of being hired. Your needs include your preferred geographical location, working conditions, corporate lifestyle, and salary. By comparing your needs with the information you discover about a prospective employer, you can assess your chances of enjoying a job once you’ve been hired.

 Contact prospective employers: The standard procedure for
mailing letters of application and résumés remains valid even in this age of high technology. Many companies, however, will accept résumés by fax or e-mail to reduce the time it takes to process applicants. Include your e-mail address on your application materials. You can also post your résumé on a placement Web site, where it can be viewed by corporate recruiters. Some of these Web sites charge a small fee for posting résumés; others are free. In addition, you can post your résumé on your personal Web page, if you have one. This approach can be particularly effective if you design these pages, because posting your Web pages allows you to showcase technical skills that are applicable to the job you’re seeking.

 Researching the job market on the Internet: In 1999, an estimated one out of every three employers in North America used the Internet for recruiting. Popular Web-based “want ads” post descriptions of job openings. Usually the employers pay for these postings, so access is free to prospective employees. Web sites include general information about jobs, employment outlook, and salaries in computer-industry jobs. Because the salaries for most jobs are vaguely stated as “commensurate with experience,” it is useful to discover what you’re worth by studying Web-based salary reports.

16

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

Copyright © 2001 by Course Technology. All rights reserved.This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing from Course Technology. Some of the product names and company names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufactures and sellers.

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